SMM Survey of China’s Zinc Concentrate Production in March and April

According to the new SMM survey sample with a total capacity of 3.26 million mt/year, the domestic zinc concentrate output stood at 161,500 mt in metal content in March, up 14,200 mt in metal content month-on-month. The average operating rate of zinc concentrate mines was 64%, an increase of 5.6 percentage points month-on-month.

According to the old SMM survey sample with a total capacity of 1.82 million mt/year, zinc concentrate output stood at 84,000 mt in metal content in March, up 10,000 mt in metal content month on month. The overall operating rates of zinc concentrate were 61%, up 7.3 percentage points on the month.

In March, the output of zinc concentrate increased month-on-month, mainly because the number of production days in March was 3 days more than in February. With the end of the Two Sessions and the gradual warming of the weather, output at mines in Inner Mongolia and other places gradually released. Some mines basically resumed normal production in March, contributing part of the output growth.

On the whole, the output of Inner Mongolia and Yunnan increased significantly in March, and the operating rates of small enterprises rose sharply. However, some mines in Guangdong were affected by the upgrade of production lines, and their output declined. Entering April, with the warmer weather and low TCs, output at mines will continue to increase.

According to the new SMM survey sample, the domestic zinc concentrate output is expected to stand at 168,200 mt in metal content in April, up 8,500 mt in metal content month-on-month. The average operating rate of zinc concentrate mines is estimated at 66.6%.